Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder has been cleared to play in his AFL club's season opener despite a facial injury.
The All-Australian suffered a fractured cheekbone in Port's last pre-season game.
But coach Ken Hinkley expects Ryder to wear a protective helmet against Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.
"He's fine ...right now, he's playing," Hinkley told reporters on Tuesday.
Hinkley said six newcomers will debut for Port - recruits Scott Lycett, Ryan Burton, third-year player Willem Drew plus a trio of fresh draftees, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma.
Rozee, Butters and Duursma were all first-round picks at last year's national draft.
"They are young people and they are usually pretty bullet-proof, young people," Hinkley said.
"They have a lot of confidence in themselves ... we have seen their (pre-season) form and they have done really well in that, so we're really comfortable that they are ready to go.
"First-round picks now, more often than not - I'm talking top-10, top-12 picks - they almost always play (round one)."
Hinkley said the trio of youngsters and Drew, who was drafted in 2016, had earned their selections through solid form.
"They are not picked because they are young and they're not picked (to play) because they're high draft picks," he said.
"They're picked because they can play really good football already and we think they can certainly have an impact straight away.
"Whether that be in pressure, whether that be in ball use, whether that be in team care, I'm sure they can have an impact.
"And what a great place to play your first game, the MCG. It's pretty exciting."
Hinkley said 11 of his 22-strong team to take on the Demons didn't play in the club's final match of last season.
Co-captain Ollie Wines (dislocated shoulder) will miss the season opener but Hinkley expected the on-baller to soon return.
However, forward Charlie Dixon's return from a broken leg and broken ankle suffered in one incident late last season remains on hold.
Dixon would likely return in rounds four to six, Hinkley said.
